Shelf height indication and validation device

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to quickly and accurately determine shelf notch height for a shelving unit. This is particularly advantageous to determine whether shelves in the shelving unit were installed at the correct height and/or for installing shelves at desired heights. In some embodiments, a measurement member is provided with a bottom offset and shelf notch indicator portions. A horizontal position indicator can then be aligned with a desired shelf notch indicator portion and project outwardly therefrom towards a shelving unit to provide a visual indication of the height of a desired shelf notch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.15/481,687, filed Apr. 7, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/319,446, filed Apr. 7, 2016, which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to modular shelving and, moreparticularly, to tools for modular shelving.

BACKGROUND

Retail stores often utilize modular shelving units to display productsfor sale. These modular shelving units can include notches along theheight of back plate to mount shelves at desired heights. In many cases,a retail store has a plan setting out specific height locations for eachshelf of the modular display units. A worker installing the shelves,however, may not follow the plan due to simple error or based on gettingeasier access to the products on the shelves, for example. Theserevisions to the plan can result in non-uniform display that detractfrom the overall appearance of an aisle and can potentially cause themodular shelving unit height to exceed a maximum. Determining whether amodular shelving unit was installed according to the plan, however, canbe a difficult and timely process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methodspertaining to determining shelf height in a modular shelving unit. Thisdescription includes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a modular shelving unit in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of a shelf heightmeasurement device in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of a shelf heightmeasurement device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of a shelf heightmeasurement device in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a camera device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart in accordance with some embodiments.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems,apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to quickly andaccurately determine shelf notch height for a modular shelving unit.This is particularly advantageous to determine whether shelves in theshelving unit were installed at the correct height and/or for installingshelves at desired heights.

A modular shelving unit 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Based on a particularuse, multiple shelving units 10 can be aligned in a row to produce anaisle in a retail location. The shelving unit 10 includes a base portion12 and a back wall 14 extending upwardly therefrom. The base portion 12can include a base deck 24 and a kick plate 26, as commonly configured.A plurality of shelf notches 28 are vertically disposed adjacent tolateral edges 30 of the back wall 14 to provide anchor points forshelves 32 mounted to the shelving unit 10. The shelf notches 28 can beincorporated into the back wall 14 or can be provided by a separatestrip or plate mounted to the back wall 14 as desired. As shown in FIG.1, the shelf notches 28 begin at a height above the base portion 12. Assuch, the shelf notches 28 cannot be easily identified by traditionalmeasuring sticks or tape measures. Instead, a user is forced to manuallycount to determine a desired shelf notch, which can easily lead tomistakes. Instead of following a preset plan as to the desired height ofthe shelves on the shelving unit 10, a user may use a product 34 that isintended for the shelf to set the shelf height at a convenient locationabove the product 34. This practice, however, can undesirably lead toshelves 32 being mounted to shelf notches 28 that are not identified inthe preset plan. Additionally, due to the location of the shelf notches28 along the back wall 14, it can be difficult for a user tosubsequently check the height of shelves 32 already mounted to theshelving unit 10, especially due to the height of the base portion 12.

A shelf height measurement device 50 configured to enable fast and easyidentification of the shelf notches 28 on the shelving unit 10 is shownin FIGS. 2-4. The device 50 can be conveniently portable so that a usercan carry the device 50 down an aisle as needed to both install shelvesat correct heights and quickly determine whether shelves already mountedto a shelving unit are mounted at correct heights.

The device 50 includes an elongate measurement member 52 that extendsalong a longitudinal axis L, which can act as a handle for a user. Theheight of the measurement member 52 is preferably sized to be greaterthan or equal to the height of a shelving unit 12 so that themeasurement member 52 can identify the height of all of the shelfnotches 28 on the shelving unit 10. If desired, the measurement member52 can be collapsible about one or more hinges 53, with portions of themeasurement member 52 pivoting about the hinges 53 with respect to oneanother, so that the measurement member 52 can be stored in a compactconfiguration. By another approach, the measurement member 52 can betelescoping components, or other collapsible mechanism. The measurementmember 52 includes a front surface 54 with a plurality of shelf notchindicator portions 56 disposed vertically along a height thereof. Themeasurement member 52 is sized so that, when it is rested on the flooradjacent to the shelving unit 10, the indicator portions 56 horizontallyalign with the shelf notches 28 on the shelving unit 10.

In one form shown in FIG. 2, the indicator portions 56 can be physicallymarked on the front surface 54. Although lines are shown for the sake ofsimplicity, the indicator portions 56 can be individually numbered, ornumbered at set intervals, such as every five portions, etc., toidentify each shelf notch 28. For example, the bottommost notch 28 canbe identified by the first indicator portion 56, the next notch 28 upcan be identified by the second indicator portion 56, and the like.Alternatively, the topmost notch 28 can correspond to the “first”indicator portion 56, etc. The indicator portions 56 can be disposed onthe front surface 54 by any suitable process, including, for example,printing, engraving, adhering, mounting using hardware, or the like.

As discussed above, the base portion 12 of the shelving unit 10complicates the identification process of the shelf notches 28. Pursuantto this, the measurement member 52 includes an offset portion 58disposed at a bottom 60 thereof. The offset portion 58 is preferablysized to have a height generally equal to a height of the base portion12 of the shelving unit 10. The shelf notch indicator portions 56 beginabove the offset portion 58 to correctly identify the heights of theshelf notches 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base portion 12 of the shelving unit 10 projectsoutwardly from the back wall 14 a significant distance to providestability to the shelving unit 10. Unfortunately, this also sets theshelf notches 28 back from a front edge 36 of the base portion 12,making it difficult to easily identify shelf notch height from avertical measurement member. Advantageously, the device 50 furtherincludes a horizontal position indicator, which in one form can be anarm portion or member 62 that projects outwardly from the measurementmember 52, such as generally transverse to the longitudinal axis Lthereof. The arm 62 is movably mounted to the measurement member 52 sothat a user can position and secure the arm 62 at a desired indicatorportion 56. The arm 62 can secure to the measurement member 52 using anysuitable mechanism, including, for example, a clamp, hardware, such as ascrew or bolt, friction, a tongue and groove, or the like. Soconfigured, a user can identify a desired indicator portion 56, slide orshift the arm 62 along the height of the measurement member 52 until thearm 62 aligns with the desired indicator portion 56, and secure the arm62 in place. Then, the user can position the device 50 verticallyadjacent to the shelving unit 10 with the arm 62 projecting toward theback wall 14 thereof so that the arm 62 visually identifies the desiredindicator portion 56. By some embodiments, the arm 62 can be pivotablymounted to the measurement member 52 so that the arm 62 can be pivotedbetween a first, storage position or orientation extending along themeasurement member 52, generally parallel to the longitudinal axis Lthereof, and a second, use position or orientation projecting outwardlyfrom the measurement member 52.

In another form shown in FIG. 3, the indicator portions 56 can beprovided on a display 57 mounted on the front surface 54 of themeasurement member 52. The display 57 can be an LCD or other electronicdisplay. Contents of the display 57 can be configured by a suitablecontrol circuit 59 mounted to or disposed within the measurement member52. As such, the control circuit 59 can cause the display 57 to displaythe indicator portions 56 thereon for viewing by a user. The indicatorportions 56 on the display 57 can be configured as set forth above,including marked, numbered, or combinations thereof.

The measurement member 52 of this form also includes a horizontalposition indicator. By one approach, the measurement member 52 caninclude an arm 62 as set forth above. By another approach, themeasurement member 52 of this form can include one or more laser orlight devices 61 disposed thereon acting as the arm 62 to visuallyidentify an indicator portion 56. The laser devices 61 are configured toproject a controlled beam of illumination outwardly from the measurementmember 52 in a horizontal direction to illuminate the shelving unit 10at a desired height corresponding to a desired shelf notch 28.

In one form, the measurement member 52 can have one laser device 61 thatcan be slidably moved along the height of the measurement member 52,similarly to the configuration of the arm 62 discussed above. In anotherform, the measurement member can include a plurality of laser devices61, such as corresponding to the number of shelves 32 mounted, or to bemounted, to the shelving unit 10. If desired, the laser devices 61 canbe removably mounted to the measurement member 52 so that a user can seta desired number at desired heights. In a further form, the measurementmember 52 can include the same number of laser devices 61 as indicatorportions 56.

By some approaches, the control circuit 59 can control operation of thelaser devices 61. In one form, the control circuit 59 can controloperation of the laser devices 61 based on instructions received from auser input 63, which can be one or more buttons, a touch screen, or thelike. So configured, a user can indicate desired indicator portions 56and the control circuit 59 can cause the desired laser devices 61 toilluminate. A user can then position the measurement member 52 next tothe shelving unit 10 and the desired laser devices 61 will illuminatethe corresponding shelf notches 28.

By further approaches, the measurement member 52 can also include amemory 65, a receiver 67, optionally a transmitter 69, and a powersource 71 operably coupled to the control circuit 59. So configured, themeasurement member 52 can receive a shelving plan from an externalsource through the receiver 67 and activate the laser devices 61identified in the shelving plan. The control circuit 59 can also causethe display 57 to display or highlight the indicator portions 56corresponding to the shelving plan. This configuration allows a user toupload a shelving plan corresponding to a desired aisle location andwalk down the aisle with the measurement member 52 held adjacent to theshelving unit in a vertical orientation such that the laser devices 61illuminate the shelf notches 28 corresponding to the shelving plan.

In some embodiments, the device 50 can further include an electronicimager or scanning device 64, such as a camera device, mounted thereto.The electronic imager or scanning device 64 is configured to collectlocation information for the shelving unit to thereby identify thegeographic location of the shelving unit 10 within the store. Thelocation information can be utilized for virtual mapping and dataconfirmation/validation via communications with to a central controlcircuit 88, as described in more detail below.

In one form, the camera device 64 is mounted to the arm 62 and orientedto capture an image that includes modular shelf identificationinformation, such as the desired indicator portion 56 and locationinformation about the shelving unit 10. For example, the locationinformation can include an aisle number, a shelf number, a product, aproduct label and/or barcode, or the like. As such, the image providesdocumentation as to shelf height and location in the store. Thedocumentation can aid users in correcting any problems and providing afile of compliance. The modular shelf identification information canfurther include the shelf 32 or shelf notch 28 oriented alongside thedesired indicator portion 56. Further, the shelving unit 10 can includenotch identification labels or portions 65 adjacent to each of the shelfnotches 28. The labels 65 can be disposed inwardly or outwardly of theshelf notches 28 as desired. So configured, after an associate mountsthe shelves 32 to the back wall 14, the associate can take a picture ofthe assembled shelving unit 10 with the identification labels 65 in viewto validate that the shelving unit 10 was assembled correctly accordingto plan.

In one form, the camera device 64 can be mounted to the measurementmember 52 to be controlled by the control circuit 59. In another form,the scanning device 64, whether mounted to the measurement member 52 orthe arm 62, is oriented to scan a label 79 or other scannable portion ofthe shelving unit 10 that identifies or points to the locationinformation to verify a location of the shelving unit 10. The label 79can be mounted to the back wall 14 or other desired portion of theshelving unit 10. The label 79 can have alphanumeric informationthereon, a machine-readable code, and so forth.

If desired, the measurement member 52 can be mounted or otherwiseattached to a robot 73 that is configured to move down an aisle or otherlocation within a store forwardly of the shelving unit 10. The robot 73advantageously positions the measurement member 52 adjacent to theshelving unit 10 so that an associate can utilize the member 52, asdiscussed herein, to identify the planned shelf notches 28 or confirmthat the shelves 32 mounted thereto are mounted to the correct shelfnotches 28. Any of the measurement member 52 embodiments describedherein can be utilized with the robot 73 to advantageously providehands-free use. The robot 73 can be operated by a user or be configuredto operate autonomously, as desired.

By a further approach, as shown in FIG. 4, the robot 73 or measurementmember 52 can include a projector 75 mounted thereto. The projector 75can be configured to project an image or hologram 77 onto an adjacentshelving unit 10, and the back wall 14 thereof, to thereby show wherethe shelves 32 should be mounted. The image or hologram 77 can highlightthe planned mounting structures 28 with separate shapes, a box intendedto represent a shelf, and a hologram of the shelf 32. To achieve adesired orientation, the robot 73 or measurement member 52 can includethe offset portion 58 so that the projector 75 aligns with the shelvingunit 10 at a desired height. The robot 73 or measurement member 52 canbe positioned at a predetermined distance from the base deck 24 so thatthe image or hologram 77 is correctly aligned with the shelving unit 10.By another approach, the robot 73 or measurement member 52 can include adistance sensor to determine a distance to the shelving unit 10 tothereby adjust the projector 75 and the image or hologram 77 projectedtherefrom so that it is accurate for the measured distance.

The user can then either mount the shelves 32 to the shelving unit 10aligned with the image or can confirm that the shelves 32 were correctlyinstalled. As shown, the robot 73, or measurement member 52, can includethe memory 65, the receiver 67, optionally the transmitter 69, and thepower source 71 operably coupled to the control circuit 59. Soconfigured, the robot 73, or measurement member 52, can receive ashelving plan from an external source through the receiver 67 andoperate the projector 75 so that the image identifies the shelf notches32 identified in the shelving plan. This configuration allows a user toupload a shelving plan corresponding to a desired aisle location andwalk down the aisle near the robot 73 or carrying the measurement member52 to install shelving 32 or confirm that shelving 32 was installedaccording to the shelving plan.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the form of a separate camera device 64, theseparate camera device 64 can be a separate computing device including alens 66, a control circuit 68, a transmitter 70, an optional receiver72, an optional display 74, an actuator 76 to control operation of thecamera device 64, a memory 78 for locally storing images and/or othermedia captured by the camera device 64, and a power source 80 providingpower to the camera device 64. The components of the camera device 64can be disposed in a single housing 82.

The term control circuit refers broadly to any microcontroller,computer, or processor-based device with processor, memory, andprogrammable input/output peripherals, which is generally designed togovern the operation of other components and devices. It is furtherunderstood to include common accompanying accessory devices, includingmemory, transceivers for communication with other components anddevices, etc. These architectural options are well known and understoodin the art and require no further description here. The control circuitsdescribed herein may be configured (for example, by using correspondingprogramming stored in a memory as will be well understood by thoseskilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions,and/or functions described herein

In addition, or instead of the actuator 76, the camera device 64 caninclude a remote actuator 84 configured to control operation of thecamera device 64. The remote actuator 84 can be wired to communicatewith the controller 68 or can communicate wirelessly therewith, such asthrough near field communication, Bluetooth, WiFi, or the like. As shownin FIG. 2, the remote actuator 84 can be mounted to the measurementmember 52 so that the device 50 can be operated with a single hand,i.e., by actuating the remote actuator 84 with the hand gripping andpositioning the device adjacent to the shelving unit 10.

So configured, as shown in FIG. 6, the measurement device 50 can beutilized to verify 100 the height of shelves 32 that are alreadyinstalled on the shelving unit 10. To verify 100 the height of a shelf32 mounted to the shelving unit 10, a user vertically orients 102 themeasurement member 52 alongside the shelving unit 10 in a generallyvertical orientation. The user aligns 104 the horizontal positionindicator, which can be the arm 62 or one or more laser devices 61discussed above, with a desired indicator portion 56. In one form, auser can vertically move the horizontal position indicator along themeasurement member 52 until it aligns with a desired indicator portion56, which corresponds to a predetermined shelf height, and secures thehorizontal position indicator to the measurement member 52. In anotherform, the user can cause the control circuit to operate horizontalposition indicators that align with desired indicator portions 56. Asshown in FIG. 5, the user can then optionally record 106 the position ofthe shelf 32 in comparison to the horizontal position indicator.Accordingly, if the shelf 32 and the horizontal position indicatoralign, the shelf 32 is mounted to the correct shelf notch 28 and if theshelf 32 and the horizontal position indicator are misaligned, the shelf32 was incorrectly mounted to the shelving unit 10. Accordingly, thedevice 50 can be used to double check installation and confirmcompliance with predetermined plans.

The device 50 can also be used during installation 200. As shown in FIG.7, a user vertically orients 202 the measurement member 52 alongside theshelving unit 10 in a generally vertical orientation. The user aligns204 the horizontal position indicator, which can be the arm 62 or theone or more laser devices 61 discussed above, with a desired indicatorportion 56, which corresponds to a predetermined shelf height. In oneform, the user can vertically move the horizontal position indicatoruntil it aligns with a desired indicator portion 56 and secure thehorizontal position indicator to the measurement member 52. In anotherform, the user can cause the control circuit to operate horizontalposition indicators that align with desired indicator portions 56. Theuser can then utilize the measurement member 52 and the horizontalposition indicator to identify a correct shelf notch 28 and mount 206the shelf 32 to the identified shelf notch 28, which can correspond to apredetermined plan. As such, an installer need not count the shelfnotches 28 on the shelving unit 10 to determine a correct notch orutilize a product that will be stocked on the shelf to determine a shelfheight, which can result in shelving heights that do not conform topredetermined plans.

As shown in FIG. 5, the camera device 64 can further include a userinput device 86, such as a touch screen, button, switch, or the like. Auser can utilize the user input 86 to manage storage of the images inthe memory 78 and/or transmit stored images to a remote, central controlcircuit 88 via any desired communication network 90, including nearfield communication, Bluetooth, WiFi, radio, a cellular network, or thelike, which can be a central depository for images. As such, a centralauthority can compile images of assembly validation and/or shelfcompliance, whether in a single location or across several locations.More specifically, after a user installs the shelves 32 on the shelvingunit 10 using the device 50, the images or scanning informationtransmitted to the central control circuit 88 can be utilized tovalidate that the shelving unit 10 was correctly installed. Eventually,the central control circuit 88 can compile images or scans for most orall of the shelving units 10 within the store to ensure compliance withthe shelving plan. In some embodiments, the user input 86 can beutilized to add data to an image, such as a caption or file name to addadditional identification information to the file, such as locationinformation, a date, a time, planogram information, or the like.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for identifying shelf notches in amodular shelf system as described herein includes a measurement memberhaving a longitudinal axis and that is configured to be oriented withthe longitudinal axis generally vertical. The measurement memberincludes a bottom offset portion that has a height generally equal to abase of the modular shelf system below the shelf notches thereof. Themeasurement member further includes a plurality of shelf notch indicatorportions disposed along a height thereof above the bottom offset portionand along the longitudinal axis. The shelf notch indicator portions areconfigured to horizontally align with the shelf notches of the modularshelf system to provide a visual reference for a user. The apparatusfurther includes horizontal position indicator that is coupled to themeasurement member configured to project outwardly therefrom generallyorthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The horizontal position indicatoris configured to align with a desired shelf notch indicator portion andproject outwardly towards the modular shelf system to provide a visualindication of a desired shelf notch on the modular shelf system.

In further embodiments, the horizontal position indicator can be an armmember movably mounted to the measurement member and the apparatus caninclude a camera device mounted to the arm member and oriented tocapture images including the desired shelf notch indicator portion andlocation information about the modular shelf system. The camera devicecan further be oriented to capture images including the desired shelfnotch or a shelf mounted thereto.

In other embodiments, the horizontal position indicator can be one ormore laser devices. By a further approach, the plurality of shelf notchindicator portions can be displayed on a display mounted to themeasurement member. By yet another approach, the measurement member caninclude a receiver and a control circuit controlling operation of thedisplay, the laser devices, and the receiver. In this approach, thecontrol circuit can be configured to receive a shelving plan from thereceiver, display shelf notch indicator portions identified in theshelving plan on the display, and illuminate the laser devices thatalign with the shelf notch indicator portions identified in the shelvingplan.

In some embodiments, a method for verifying a height of a shelf mountedto shelf notches in a modular shelf system as described herein includesvertically orienting a measurement member having a longitudinal axisalongside the modular shelf system. The measurement member can include abottom offset portion having a height generally equal to a base of themodular shelf system below the shelf notches thereof and a plurality ofshelf notch indicator portions disposed along a height of themeasurement member above the bottom offset portion, where the shelfnotch indicator portions are configured to horizontally align with theshelf notches of the modular shelf system. The method further includesaligning a horizontal position indicator coupled to the measurementmember with a desired shelf notch indicator portion of the plurality ofshelf notch indicator portions. The horizontal position indicator can beconfigured to project outwardly towards the modular shelf system toprovide a visual indication of a desired shelf notch of the modularshelf system

In further embodiments, the method can include recording the position ofthe shelf mounted to the modular shelf system in comparison to thehorizontal position indicator. By one approach, recording the positioncan include capturing an image of the shelf and the horizontal positionindicator with a camera device.

In further embodiments, the horizontal position indicator can be one ormore laser devices, and the measurement member can includes a displayconfigured to display the plurality of shelf notch indicator portions, areceiver, and a control circuit controlling operation of the display,the laser devices, and the receiver. By this approach, aligning thehorizontal position indicator with the desired shelf notch indicatorportion can include the control circuit receiving a shelving plan fromthe receiver, displaying shelf notch indicator portions identified inthe shelving plan, and illuminating the laser devices that align withthe shelf notch indicator portions identified in the shelving plan.

In some embodiments, a method for mounting shelves to shelf notches atpredetermined heights in a modular shelf system as described hereinincludes vertically orienting a measurement member having a longitudinalaxis alongside the modular shelf system. The measurement member includesa bottom offset portion having a height generally equal to a base of themodular shelf system below the shelf notches thereof and a plurality ofshelf notch indicator portions disposed along a height of themeasurement member above the bottom offset portion, where the shelfnotch indicator portions are configured to horizontally align with theshelf notches of the modular shelf system. The method can furtherinclude aligning a horizontal position indicator coupled to themeasurement member with a desired shelf notch indicator portion of theplurality of shelf notch indicator portions, where the horizontalposition indicator is configured to project outwardly towards themodular shelf system to provide a visual indication of a desired shelfnotch of the modular shelf system. The method can then include mountinga shelf to the desired shelf notch on the modular shelf system.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of othermodifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made withrespect to the above described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for identifying shelf notches in amodular shelf system, the apparatus comprising: a measurement memberhaving a longitudinal axis and configured to be oriented with thelongitudinal axis generally vertical, the measurement member including abottom offset portion having a height generally equal to a base of themodular shelf system below the shelf notches thereof; a plurality ofshelf notch indicator portions disposed along a height of themeasurement member above the bottom offset portion along thelongitudinal axis thereof, the shelf notch indicator portions configuredto horizontally align with the shelf notches of the modular shelfsystem; and a horizontal position indicator coupled to the measurementmember and configured to project outwardly therefrom generallyorthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the horizontal position indicatorfurther configured to align with a desired shelf notch indicator portionand project outwardly towards the modular shelf system to provide avisual indication of a desired shelf notch on the modular shelf system,wherein the horizontal position indicator comprises one or more laserdevices; wherein the plurality of shelf notch indicator portions aredisplayed on a display mounted to the measurement member; wherein themeasurement member further comprises a receiver and a control circuitcontrolling operation of the display, the laser devices, and thereceiver; and wherein the control circuit is configured to receive ashelving plan from the receiver, display shelf notch indicator portionsidentified in the shelving plan on the display, and illuminate the laserdevices that align with the shelf notch indicator portions identified inthe shelving plan.
 2. A method for verifying a height of a shelf mountedto shelf notches in a modular shelf system, the method comprising:vertically orienting a measurement member having a longitudinal axisalongside the modular shelf system, the measurement member including abottom offset portion having a height generally equal to a base of themodular shelf system below the shelf notches thereof and a plurality ofshelf notch indicator portions disposed along a height of themeasurement member above the bottom offset portion, the shelf notchindicator portions configured to horizontally align with the shelfnotches of the modular shelf system; and aligning a horizontal positionindicator coupled to the measurement member with a desired shelf notchindicator portion of the plurality of shelf notch indicator portions,the horizontal position indicator configured to project outwardlytowards the modular shelf system to provide a visual indication of adesired shelf notch of the modular shelf system, wherein the horizontalposition indicator comprises one or more laser devices, the measurementmember includes a display configured to display the plurality of shelfnotch indicator portions, a receiver, and a control circuit controllingoperation of the display, the laser devices, and the receiver; andwherein aligning the horizontal position indicator with the desiredshelf notch indicator portion comprises the control circuit receiving ashelving plan from the receiver, displaying shelf notch indicatorportions identified in the shelving plan, and illuminating the laserdevices that align with the shelf notch indicator portions identified inthe shelving plan.